AWESOME Safety Training Day!!!!

[Riptide Charters]

I just got back from one of the most impressive marine safety courses you could imagine. When I went to IMP Fishing Supply in New Bedford to buy my SOLAS flares for this season they asked me if I was interested in their "Safety Day". I asked, them what it was about and what it cost. They told me it was a free service and I'll go into detail about what was involved.



Bob Pink and I arrived at the SMAST facility in New Bedford around 0700. It's a marine research complex on NB harbor. We were greeted with coffee and Ma's doughnuts before being broken up into 5 groups.



The first 45 minutes was a brief safety overview and a rundown of the days events. After that first 45 minutes the rest of the day was all hands on.



Our group first went to the Raft, Epirb and Flare station. There we went over a full size raft and the instructor showed us all of the items included in the raft kit, how they are to be used and how to manuver in and around the raft. THey also went over Epirb's from how to use them, diferences and also PLB's. Then we went out onto the pier where they had cases of expired SOLAS flares. We were instructed on the use of the different flares and smokes and then given the chance to deploy all of the various pyrotechnics. Let me just say those SOLAS rocket flares are INSANE!!! The fire off with a loud WOOOSH and send a 30,000 candlepower parachute flare almost a 1/2 mile!!!!! It was some fantastic hands on training.



Then we went to First Aid. The instructor did a basic CPR and first aid class consisting of the ABC's, trauma, shock, cardiac arrest and severe bleeding. Also covered was AED's and hands on stabilization drills etc.



Then it was TANK TIME!!!!! They had an indoor sea water tank with a 6 man raft deployed. We were all instructed to get into our Gumby suits and we were tought how to properly enter the water. I was able to try out a new style Guy Cotton suit that was FAST to get into and very easy to manuver in. Much easier in all respects to a traditional gumby. Once in the water we had to enter the free floating raft and then help others enter until we filled the raft to capacity. This was FANTASTIC training. Being able to see how you are limited with the gumby suit and how hard it is to enter a free floating raft even in a calm pool.



After the pool we went to Radio Distress calls and Fire Suppression. The instructor went over the proper radio protocall for calling a mayday and when this should be done. Then there was large metal tank about 12' x 10' x 1' was half filled with sea water. Then a layer of gasoline was added before the instructor lit the tank with a flare. Then in teams of two we used several types of fire extinguishers to suppress the fire and prevent reflashes.



The next station was the dewatering and damage control station where the USCG had several dewatering pumps set up with large tanks. We were shown how the pumps would be air dropped or delivered by boat. They were unpacked, assembled and we were able to use them to transfer water from tank to tank getting real world expeirence using in actual CG pumps. Then they moved us to the Damage control trailer. IT's the CG's mobile platform to show how tocontrol flooding. It's a large metal trailer with numerous pipe's, stands, hoses and thru hulls. IT's connected to a pressurized water supply and on the instructors command any or all of the various pipes, fittings and hoses begin to spray water everywhere to simulate a failure. You are teamed up and given a mallet, some wooded shakes, some rope, some rags and some rubber strips. You have to stop the leak! Besides being great training it was funny as hell watching as a nearly pluged leak became a high pressure spray soaking the would be safety team!



We then broke for lunch, which was provided by the good folks at SMAST and the City of New Bedford.



After lunch the USGC Air Staion Cape Cod sent over a H860 Helo with a flight crew. They landed out back and gave a very in depth talk about how to prepare a vessel for hoisting, receiving a dewatering pump and various other aspects involving the helo. Finally they ended the course with the deployment of a liferaft.



The course took around 8 hours and the time FLEW by. Tom Richardson from Offshore Magazine joined Bob and Me as we moved from station to station. He photo'd and observed all of the classes for an upcoming article.



Overall this was just plain AWESOME!!!! The training was top shelf. It was not only informative but it was actually fun. Despite the cold outside we stayed moving and that kept us warm. The course is one I easily would have spent $250-$300 to attend. It was just that good!!!! Then add in the free lunch and snacks and it would have been a bargin. But it wasn't $300, it was all for FREE!!!!



I'd like to thank all the people involved with this course. IMP Fishing Gear LTD, SMAST, The USCG, The City of New Bedford and all of the instructors that took the time to share their knowledge with us. Though I hope to NEVER use ANY of what I learned today it was the best course I've ever taken!!!!

[WAHOONBOX]

THANKS TERRY FOR THE INFO DUDE!

i hate i missed this one.....

[trollman]

yes cap't terry awesome. will they do this again this spring, i wd like to attend. Box, you are invited too!

[OffTheHookB&T]

Sounds like a great course! It would be great if there more like it, all offshore captains and crew should receive this training! I'd definetly pay for this.

[striper101]

I agree with Chuck! This is great info & we all should have this info before heading off!
Thanks Capt Terry!

[shoefish]

Terry-
Do they do it more than once? I'd like to go to one of these, it sounds great. I don't know why we just assume that we will know what to do when the shit hits the fan, but I'm sure that we don't have a clue. If you have any contacts, see if they are going to put this on again.
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